Convertible chair and folding bed



May 13, 1930. s sw Tz ET AL 1,758,721.

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND FOLDING BED Filed June 22, 1927 .2 Sheets-Shee 1 Inventors 5cm SwarTz Meyer- Swa r T a Ja c K Swcl r12 M sm'zmw Anys May13, 1930. s, SWARTZ ET-A 1,758,721

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND FOLIDING BED Filed June 22, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InvnTors, Soul Swctrrz Meyer Sworlz Jack SWO rTZ yMMkM Patented May 13, 1930 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAUL SWARTZ, MEYER SWARTZ, AND JACK SVJ'ARTZ, F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS CONVERTIBLE CHAIR AND FOLDING BED Application filed. June 22,

This invention relates to a combined folding bed and chair and has for its object to provide an article of furniture of this type having the novel features hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to give an understanding of the invention we have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a folding bed and chair embodying our invention, a part being broken out to better show the construction;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with a part broken out;

Fig. 3 is an end View showing the article of furniture converted into a chair;

Fig. 4' is a side view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 3.

A device embodying our invention comprises two folding side members 1 and 2, each having the well known lazy-tongs construction, a bed bottom fabric 3 which is secured to'the top of the side members and a combined seat and pillow member secured to one end of the side members. As stated above each side member is of the lazy-tongs type, it being formed of a plurality of pairs of link members 4, 5, having a crossing relation, the link members of each pair being pivotally connected together and the pairs of links being also pivotally connected together. The link members 4 and 5 of each pair are pivoted together at 6 and the ends of the link members 4 are pivotally connected to the ends of the link member 5 of the adjacent pair as shown at 7. This makes a folding structure of the well-known lazy-tong type which can be extended as shown in Fig. 1. The two side members 1 and 2 are held spaced from each other by suitable cross pieces 8 which extend from one side member to the other.

The bed bottom fabric 3, which may be of canvas or any other suitable material, is secured to the upper edges ofthe side members, said fabric being fastened to the side members at the points where the link members 4 and 5 meet and are pivoted together. This 1927. Serial No. 200,727.

bed bottom fabric, therefore, is supported at intervals at each edge.

hen the side members are extended, as shown in Fig. 1, the bed bottom fabric 3 constitutes a means for limiting the expanding movement, said bed bottom at this time be ing held in taut condition. When the side members are folded the portions of the bed bottom between the points of support are folded up between the link members of each pair, as shown at 9 in Fig. 4.

In order to give additional strength to the bed bottom and prevent it from sagging we propose to employ a plurality of reinforcing webs 10 which extend from one side member to the other. These reinforcing webs, which may be of canvas, burlap or any suitable material will preferably extend diagonally across the bed bottom and will have a crossing relation, as shown in Fig. 2. Each web is connected at its ends to the side members at the points where the bed bottom fabric is connected thereto. This connection may conveniently be made by tacking the ends of the webs to the upper ends of the link members 4, 5 where they are pivoted together as shown at 11.

12 indicates two links which are pivoted to gether and are also pivoted to two of the members 5. hen the bed is extended as shown in Fig. 1 these links serve as braces to hold the side members extended.

Pivoted to one end of the side members is a combined seat and pillow. This is indicated generally at 13 and it comprises a seat member 14: of wood or some stifi material which is pivoted to the side members by the hinges 15 and a pillow member 16'which is connected to the seat member by the hinge connection 17. The hinge connection 17 may be simply a web of cloth which is secured at one edge to the pillow member and at the other end to the seat member.

When the device is extended and is to be used as a bed the seat member will be swung into the position shown in Fig. 1, it being held in this position by the engagement of the face 30 thereof against the face 31 of the folding frame, and the pillow member will be folded over on top of the seat member.

When the device is folded up as shown in Fig. 4 the combined pillow and seat member may be folded over so that the edges 18 of the seat member rest on the upper edges of the side members. The pillow member is of slightly less length than the seat member, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 3, and when the device is folded the pillow member is received between the side members as illustrated in dotted lines Fig. 4. Since the pillow member 16 is connected to the seat 14 by simply a web of cloth, as shown at 17, it is possible for the pillow member to fold over on either side of the seat and hence when the sides are folded as shown in Fig. 4 it is possible to fold the pillow on top of the seat to make a cushion as well as to fold it under the seat as shown in Fig. 4.

20 indicates hooks which are attached to the side members and are adapted to hook into eyes 21 on the ends of the seat member, these hooks operating to hold the seat member in position. The top of the seat member may be covered with leather or any suitable upholstery 22 to make a proper seat and we propose to provide said seat member with a handle 23 by which the folded article may be carried.

24 indicates a foot rest which is pivoted to the side members at the end opposite to that at which the pillow and seat member are pivoted. This foot rest is hinged to the members 5 below the point where the latter are pivoted to the members 4 and said foot member can be swung down into operative position shown in Fig. 4 when the device is converted into a chair or may be folded against the members 5 when the device is converted into a bed.

We have provided chains or flexible connections 25 which are attached to the free edge of the foot rest 24 and to the members 5 and which serve to hold the foot rest in its operative position.

26 indicates a strap or connection which is secured to the edge of the foot rest and by which the latter may be locked in its folded position. This strap has an opening 27 in one end adapted to fit over a nail or pin 28 carried by one of the cross bars 8.

hen the device is converted into a chair and the side members are folded up the lower ends of the link members 4 and 5 form an ample base to support the chair in upright position and as the edge of the seat member rests directly on the upper ends of the link members said seat will support any reasonable weight.

e may, if desired, use a mattress on top of the bed bottom fabric 3. Such a mattress is indicated in dotted lines at 33. This mattress is removable from the bed bottom fabric and when the device is folded up as shown in Fig. 4 the mattress may be rolled up and stored between the folding side members as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 4.

The link member 5 at the head end of the device preferably has a panel 34 of canvas secured to the cross pieces 3 and when the device is folded up and the mattress is stored between the folded sides, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 4, said mattress will be retained between the canvas panel 34 and the folded foot rest 24. c

35 indicates a canvas or cloth support which is secured to the two cross pieces 8 of two adjacent link members 5 near the center of the devicelVhen the device is extended, as shown in Fig. 1, this support 35 will be relatively taut and it forms a shelf on which the mattress in a rolled-up condition may be placed in case it is not desired to use the mattress on top of the bed bottom fabric.

lVe claim:

1. In a convertible folding bed and chair of the type having two folding side members and a fabric bed bottom supported thereby, the combination with said side members, of a rigid seat member hinged to the side members at one end thereof and adapted to fold over on top of the side members when the latter are folded thereby to form a seat and a pillow member hinged to the free edge of the seat member, said pillow member being supported by the seat member and forming a pillow when the side members are extended to form a bed, the dimension of said pillow member transversely of the bed being such that when the side members are folded and the seat member is in operative posltion wlth the pillow member folded underneath 1t, said pillow member will be situated between the folded side members, the hinge connection between the pillow member and the seat member being such as to permit the pillow member to fold over onto either side of said seat member.

2. A convertible folding bed and chair comprlslng a fOlClID frame having foldlng side members, a bed bottom fabric supported swung outwardly into operative horizontal position when the latter are folded to form a chair, and flexible connections for holding the foot rest in its operative position.

3. In a convertible folding bed and chair of the type having two folding side members and a fabric bed bottom supported by the side members, the combination with said members of a rigid seat member hinged to the side members at one end thereof and adapted to fold over on the top of the side members when the latter are folded thereby ios support secured to certain of said cross bars and forming a support for a rolled-up mattress when the bed is extended.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

SAUL SWARTZ. MEYER SWARTZ. JACK SWARTZ. 

